Food banks

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I think it's time that the likes of IDS stopped thinking that everyone who needs some help either with food, money, household goods or just good advice is trying to take advantage of his idea of our 'wonderful' society. He hasn't got a clue, but why would he? He and his kind (I see them as a different breed), on the whole, have had and still have a privileged, wealthy, bubblewrapped existence. It would be interesting to see how he would cope in the world some of the most vulnerable and poor inhabit, where every day involves some sort of battle against poverty and/or discrimination. He doesn't make my blood boil - he makes it run cold.

The homelessness charity I co-founded works hand in hand with the food bank, the local PCSO's and a local Christian organisation that provides free hot meals via very loose referrals. We make referrals to one another and ensure that people who are homeless have access to frequent hot meals, warm sleeping bags and adequate clothing. The food bank makes up food parcels for families with children and delivers them during the summer holidays; their volunteers bake cakes and also serve refreshments when the food bank is open. The leaders of each resource meet together on a regular basis to share information, training and good practice and we are all collaborating with statutory providers to try and improve the lives of the marginalised people we meet in our community.

Recently we attended a conference, hosted by the local conservative council and attended by two local conservative MP's, where the impact of current and future cuts was spelled out and it was so very much worse than I think anyone in the room had imagined. Even though we were a group of generally well informed people we were truly shocked and surprised at the scale of the cuts and the speed at which they will have an impact.

At the moment there are plans to sack every single PCSO in Devon and Cornwall along with 700+ police officers; although there is still hope that the cuts won't be quite as Draconian as this there will nevertheless be a huge gap in provision if PCSO's are lost and if police numbers (already cut to the bone) are further reduced. The impact of the Universal Credit system will hit vulnerable people especially hard - and with a five week initial gap between payments the local food banks were warned to anticipate extra demands. Access to affordable/social housing is already a joke and homelessness is set to rise to unprecedented levels.

When I was a child I lived in a family where poverty was crippling and I am sad and disheartened that in 2015 I'm still coming across people whose lives are currently blighted by it.

What's a PCSO?

It all sounds quite dreadful.

I am in despair , I read my g grandfathers journal and find I am doing in 2015 what he did before WW1 , over 100 years ago !

Police Community Support Officer whitewave - ours are hard working and fully engaged with the community. Their presence has made a big difference to low level anti-social behaviours and they work very closely with statutory and other organisations to improve community life for the locals.

I think there is going to be trouble with the police. If not with the police the result of the cuts will be felt badly in some communities.

I am listening to the policing debate in the house, seventeen thousand police officers gone in the last four years , with the demonstrations which are sure to take place , very worrying

thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/trussell-trust-will-not-have-jobcentre-staff-in-foodbanks

Fareshare is on Hugh F-W's War on Waste tonight.

I believe that families who receive food from food banks are only allowed so much each year- something like 4-5 parcels. What on earth do they live on in between?

I think they are allowed them if their benefits have not come through or they are waiting for decisions to be made.

Someone else may know more about them; however DN works in one and said that some of the same people do seem to be there regularly. If they have more than enough food donated - and often they do, I can't see them turning people away.

They cannot receive food without a voucher , just giving it away isn't permitted

Yes, I know and they are only allowed so many as Charleygirl said, but DN does see the same people, so how does that happen?

And when they are inundated with food, as does happen, does it just sit there going out of date if only so much is allocated?

. We have never had out dated food and watch the use by dates to make sure the food moves within that time. A lot of planning goes into making up the food parcels , I admit I like to pop in chocy biscuits when there are children in family , rich tea is boring for a little one . But not as extras.

So would you pack up extra in the parcels that you give out, if you have an influx of extra food Anniebach?

Or store it? DN said their storage facilities are limited; certain times of the year they will get a lot more food than at others.

We have storage Rosequartz , we are fortunate to have been given extra storage space in a near by church , the priest allows us to store in a side chapel , he removed the seating .

I think if we had too much food I would ignore the rules , no way would I throw food away , being an area where one knows almost everyone no problem in knowing who is in desperate need. I also help in a scheme where we are given furniture, clothes etc, and have a drop in centre to help people in need of advice , so one gets to know just how some are really in greatest need

I no doubt will be accused of virtual thingy by saying this, but no matter, i feel no self gratification, just a deep sadness that people are in need of charity to this extent

And yet pensionpal, in her post of 3rd November, is saying that despite the food bank where she volunteers not being in a prosperous town they have too much food and not enough takers. Plus, they have no storage facilities.

There's an imbalance somewhere.

With 90000 food banks , some in cities, some in town, some in rural areas there will be imbalance surely? The South Wales Valleys compared to the Cotswold area!